Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley as portrayed by Windy Goat Acre owner and operators, Jessica Kettler and Jim Carney. PHOTOS BY FITZWILLIAM AND GEORGIANA DARCY

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife, or a scone, or a cookie, or some tea, or game of croquet. That’s how it was for the guests of Windy Goat Acres in Chelsea on Mother’s Day weekend. In bonnets and top hats, the day was a celebration of Jane Austen’s classic.

Pride and Prejudice and Picnics was the name of the event organized by Danielle Nahra and Windy Goat Acres co-owner Jessica Kettler. A Jane Austen fan, Nahra talked about how the idea for the event came to be.

“Jess and I have often talked about different events that we could do at Windy Goat Acres. This particular one was during a long car ride home after we took our annual girls’ weekend to the Goblin King Ball in Wisconsin,” she said. “It started as an idea, and then we both agreed that we should just go for it. These are the kinds of events that I always wish to go to, but they’re always too far away, so if no one else is going to do it in this area, why not us?”

The event started Saturday morning with a tea service worthy of the Bennets at Longbourn. As scones and cookies were daintily devoured by those in regency wear, Abigail Rae played lovely music on the guitar that set the scene.

At the start of every hour, the Jane Austen Players performed a scene from the book. While not performing, the Bennet family, along with other characters of the classic novel, could be seen wandering around the property. As Mr. Darcy enjoyed the power of doing what he liked, he sat and read in a most elegant manner for a time, then played a game alongside Mr. Bingley against some guests. Windy Goat Acres co-owners Kettler and Jim Carney played Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley, as event organizer Danielle Nahra portrayed the obstinate, headstrong girl herself, Elizabeth Bennet.

Pride and Prejudice and Picnics co-organizer Danielle Nahra portraying Elizabeth Bennet dancing with Mr. Darcy among the guests.

The twentieth anniversary of the Keira Knightley film version of Pride and Prejudice is one of the reasons this theme was chosen.

“Jane Austen tells such wonderful stories with real and flawed people, making them more relatable and compelling.” Nahra said. “It was also the first choice as this is often the first book/ movie most people get introduced to with Jane Austen.”

If you didn’t know what was being celebrated at the event, you could definitely tell the era. As the path led you to where the guests congregated, a feeling of having sauntered back in time a couple of centuries washed over you. The costumes played a large part in marrying Jane Austen’s England with a modern-day Chelsea farm. A ball gown and a parasol or a top hat and cravat made the characters. The organizers themselves, Kettler and Nahra, made many of the outfits.

While Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy neither perform to strangers, they were the ones to lead the group dance lesson. What started out rocky and awkward, the group soon got into the rhythm and performed a dance that could have been executed at a ball at Netherfield Park.

This was the first event of its theme at Windy Goat Acres, but more than likely not the last. Next year is already being thought about, with other themes being considered, from other Jane Austen books to possibly the Bridgerton series. No matter the specific subject, the regency era will be a theme that remains in the future.

The Jane Austen Players doing the scene where Mr. Wickham meets Lydia Bennet.

Other events coming up at Windy Goat Acres are the Strawberry Moon Festival from June 13-15, the Hobbits and Elves retreat from June 21-22, and the Faery Experience on Aug. 23-24.

Guests came to Tama County to witness and be a part of one of the greatest love stories ever written. And through brief scenes and in glancing moments, during a picnic, and dancing, and yard games, they were able to see firsthand the tale of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

The guests of the event enjoying their picnic.

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy playing some yard games.

The guests had fun learning two separate dances at the Pride and Prejudice and Picnics event.